Salvia penstemonoides

Salvia penstemonoides Kunth & Bouché

Big Red Sage, Penstemon Sage

Synonym(s): Salvia pentstemonoides

Once thought to be extinct, Big Red Sage was rediscovered in the 1980s and has become an established garden plant in Texas. It occurs in the wild in only a few locations in central Texas, but luckily it is easy to grow from seed and can attain an impressive stature in garden soil. The flowers are a sort of purplish red and appear in the summer, drawing many hummingbirds. Its robust, glossy foliage looks attractive behind a border and also smells pleasant - rubbing against the leaves releases a scent vaguely reminiscent of lemon-lime, but somehow more like Sprite or 7-Up.
The specific epithet, formerly spelled penstemonoides, is an orthographic variant.

Growing Conditions

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Attractive flowers and leaves that smell faintly like lemon-lime when brushed against Use Wildlife: A sure hummingbird attractor Use Food: Like many red-flowered Salvias, its flowers are both edible and sweet. Conspicuous Flowers: yesFragrant Foliage: yesAttracts: Butterflies , Hummingbirds Nectar Source: yesDeer Resistant: Minimal